History of District Heating in the United States

| Chronological List of District Heating Systems in the United States |

District Heating in Missoula, Montana

The Missoula Mercantile Company built a large heating plant in their new building in 1890 that provided heat for their own building and others nearby.

This plant was replaced with a larger plant built in 1902 in a separate building.  This new plant was sold to the Missoula Light and Water Company in 1906 and was acquired by the Missoula Public Service Company in 1925 and then by the Montana Power Company in 1929.

Montana Power Company discontinued steam service in March 1960.


References
1890 "Steam and Electricity," Missoula Weekly Gazette, August 13, 1890, Page 9
Valuable Plants to be Placed in the New Blocks of the Missoula Mercantile Co,

1891 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Missoula, Missoula County, Montana (June 1891)
Plate 2:  Heating and electric plant in Missoula Mercantile Co.

1893 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Missoula, Missoula County, Montana (October 1891)
Plate 2:  Heating plant in Missoula Mercantile Co.

1902 "Missoula Heating Plant," The Missoulian, January 16, 1902, Page 5

1902 "Heating Plant for Missoula," The  Missoulian, August 6, 1902, Page 8.
The intention of the plant was to heat the five large blocks owned by the First National Bank, the Missoula Mercantile company and the Missoula Real Estate association.

1902 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Missoula, Missoula County, Montana (March 1902)
Plate 16:  Heating plant in Missoula Mercantile Co.

1912 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Missoula, Missoula County, Montana (July 1912)
Plate 17:  Missoula Light & Water Co. Public Heating Plant

1940 The Story of Montana Power

1959 "Steam Heating Plant to be Discontinued," The Missoulian, September 25, 1959, Page 5
Evidence introduced at a hearing July 15 at the Missoula County Courthouse revealed that the number of customers served dropped from 179 at the end of December 1958 to 93 at the date of the hearing, including 16 in the process of converting to gas.
Conversion has continued until today only about 54 customers remain, reported Harry McCann, Missoula Division manager. At the peak of operations, it had approximately 200 customers, he said.
It was brought out in the hearing that the rapid decline has been due to the fact that natural gas is from 30 to 40 per cent cheaper than the cost of steam heat. It was further stated that, although conversion to gas results in additional original expenditure, the original cost will be recovered through fuel cost savings within one to four years in the majority of situations.
The official added that the company personnel will assist all of the steam customers, in every way possible, to get their heating systems changed over in order to meet the closing date set by the commission.
McCann said the plant, which is a Missoula landmark, was established about a half-century ago. It was purchased by the Montana Power Co. from the Missoula Public Service Co. in 1929. Rates now in effect for the service were established by the Montana Railroad and Public Service Commission in 1950.
The plant houses five steam boilers which generate steam through 6.3U0 feet of mains, and approximately 3,900 feet of service connections in the central business district. Four firemen are employed full time, and meter reading, bookkeeping and other admin istrative activity is conducted at the firm's offices in the Masonic Temple Building on East Broadway.

1960 "Missoula, Mont.," District Heating 45(3):100 (January 1960)
The application of the Montana Power Company to discontinue its steam heating utility service in Missoula was granted by the Montana Railroad and Public Service Commission, and service was discontinued on December 1.

1960 "Heating Plant to Close Down," The Daily Missoulian, March 20, 1960, Page 19 | Part 2 |
The plant was built in 1902 by the Missoula Mercantile Co. to serve its own requirements and those of three or four other nearby buildings.  On Jan. 1, 1906 the plant was acquired by the interests of William A. Clark, one of the Butte copper kings, under the name of the Missoula Light & Water Co.
The Clark interests sold the operation to the Missoula Public Service Co. in 1925 and Montana Power acquired it in 1929.


© 2024 Morris A. Pierce